Hazelcreak – Nysnø
Genre: Folk, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
There will eventually be a 9-hour epic cinematic production about the history of pop music and its impact. It will probably get directed by Martin Scorses. And, no doubt, luminaries like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan will be asked to give their take on the importance of this little art form. That all sounds fair enough.
When the sketches are being drawn and the movie script being written, most likely, if the story is to be told honestly, it will all need to begin with a man or a woman holding an acoustic guitar, telling stories in song to poor people determined to receive the soothing sounds. The story of pop art begins with folk music.
And, while folk might seem like the most conservative of all major styles, the likes of Hazelcreak are making a big effort to prove to us that this is simply not the case. A folk singer throwing electro curveballs into the mix, the singer echoes the likes of Bon Iver on single Nysnø to profound and unsettling results. The book’s still not fully written.
Bad Static – Freak
Genre: Punk, Alternative Rock
Similar artists: Bikini Kill, Hole, The Runaways, and Babes in Toyland
In many ways and for many people, punk-rock is the equivalent of Sunday service, therapy, and you juvenile corrections officer. In other words, punk acts as the tough, but a well-meaning parent who’s not afraid, ashamed, or uninterested to approach the topics that you really care about.
Despite the majority of punk musicians, myself included, not exactly ever reaching Jimi Hendrix, or Keith Moon levels of proficiency, the folks who get into the style and subculture early in their lives, never really depart.
Punk is a particularly good compass when it comes to complicated matters of the heart. Riot Grrl-revivalists Bad Static approach Freak as a would-be tete-a-tete with a close friend about a relationship doomed to fail because of the suitor’s disinterest in committing. The story ends, fittingly, with the girl taking her power back. Is this a potential feminist anthem? Yes, it is. You can expect punk-rock to do that for you.
